Minnesota's Solar Power Expansion Linked to Forced Labor Concerns

Minnesota’s goal of carbon‑free electricity by 2040 includes expanding solar generation at the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco Solar). Xcel Energy, the Minneapolis‑based utility, plans to replace coal output with solar, battery storage and other resources, targeting a total capacity of 910 MW by 2029.

Critics point out that a large share of solar panels worldwide contain materials produced with forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has blocked shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, yet many Chinese suppliers reroute products through third‑party countries, undermining the restrictions. The forced‑labor issue raises moral and human‑rights questions for Minnesota policymakers overseeing the clean‑energy transition.